UGANDA: ASSISTANT SECRETARY CARSON'S MEETING WITH

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 KAMPALA 001280 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2019 TAGS: PREL PTER MASS MCAP SO UG SUBJECT: UGANDA: ASSISTANT SECRETARY CARSON'S MEETING WITH SOMALIA TFG PRESIDENT Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Aaron Sampson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) Summary: Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) President Sheikh Sharif said AMISOM must retaliate against extremists or risk losing popular support in Mogadishu, and asked the U.S. to pressure Egypt, the European Union, and others to honor commitments to support the TFG. He added that the TFG is trying to take advantage of infighting between al Shabaab and Hizbul al Islam but is in desperate need of financial support to strengthen its political and military effectiveness. President Sharif discussed Kenyan plans to create a "buffer zone" in Jubaland, and Assistant Secretary Carson cautioned him against the recruitment of Somali soldiers from the Dadaab refugee camp in northeast Kenya. The Assistant Secretary said the U.S. stands behind President Sharif and will continue to support the TFG both directly and through Burundi and Uganda. He also promised to follow up on Egyptian and European Union pledges of support for the TFG. End Summary. -------------- TFG Security -------------- ¶2. (S) TFG President Sheikh Sharif, Foreign Minister Ali Jama Jangali, State Minister for Presidential Affairs Hassan Moalin Mohamud Ali, and Somali Ambassador to Uganda Sayid Ahmed Sheikh Dahir met with Assistant Secretary Carson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Defense Huddleston, and Ambassador Lanier on October 24. TFG leaders had traveled to Kampala to attend the October 19-23 African Union Special Summit for Refugees, Returnees, and Internally Displaced Persons (septel). Referring to the deadly September 17 attack on AMISOM headquarters in Mogadishu and the October 22 attempt to target his aircraft as it departed Mogadishu for Kampala, President Sharif said he does not believe that al Shabaab has someone inside the TFG. He noted that the runway in Mogadishu is open, making it impossible to conceal movements of his airplane. -------------- Taking Advantage of Extremists' Infighting -------------- ¶3. (S) Sharif said fighting between al Shabaab and Hizbul al Islam has given the TFG breathing room to rebuild the Somali army, and that the TFG is taking advantage of this by sending some officers for additional training. The TFG is also considering replacing some military commanders with more effective officers. Fighting between extremists has boosted the TFG's image among the Somali people by showing that extremists have no agenda beyond fighting, killing, and slaughtering civilians, and has enabled the TFG to attract new supporters. The TFG is also making inroads within Hizbul al Islam, which Sharif said is not as ideologically extreme as al Shabaab. -------------- TFG Political Effectiveness: We Need Money -------------- ¶4. (S) Assistant Secretary Carson encouraged President Sharif to expand the inclusiveness of his government across clan, sub-clan, and regional lines to bring in as many moderate and thoughtful voices as possible. Assistant Secretary Carson also encouraged the TFG to continue to push its message of peace, stability, moderation and the creation of a new Somalia, and said the U.S. is moving forward with plans to amplify the TFG's voice by supporting a TFG radio station in Mogadishu. He stressed the importance of delivering services to the Somali people, and urged the President to look for ways to provide services such as health care, schools, and books in areas under TFG control. The Assistant Secretary said the U.S. stands ready to provide books, teaching materials, and/or health clinic supplies. ¶5. (S) President Sharif said the TFG has made great strides in spreading its message and is trying to decentralize government to give local people greater and more direct control. To this end, the TFG plans to replace unqualified local administrators with new "decent" officials capable of leading local governments. Sharif described local government officials in Mogadishu as "incapable of running a city." He said the TFG is also reaching out to Puntland, that his Prime Minister recently visited Puntland, and that the TFG will KAMPALA 00001280 002 OF 003 soon invite Puntland officials to Mogadishu in the hope of working cooperatively. Sharif acknowledged rumors of an impending cabinet reshuffle, but said his main focus is addressing the challenges of local administration and the reorganization of security forces. He said that Somali forces need refresher training as his forces often act more like militias due to prolonged service in combat zones. A battalion of 600 troops is currently training in Djibouti. Another 700 troops are receiving training in Uganda. ¶6. (S) Describing the TFG as in "great financial stress," President Sharif said the TFG owes USD 700,000 in medical bills in Nairobi, that TFG soldiers had not been paid for four months, and that there is no money for the salaries of Parliamentarians or some Ministers. Foreign Affairs Minister Jangali added that the TFG is counting on a European Union promise of budget support. He said the TFG needs about USD 9-10 million per month and that the EU is prepared to provide USD 6 million. The remainder will come from within Somalia, although the security situation renders it difficult to raise money domestically. Jangali asked the U.S. to speak to the EU about the proposed budget support, and said that the TFG is missing immediate opportunities to obtain the support of the Somali people, the international community, and other African governments due to lack of funds. Assistant Secretary Carson said the U.S. would follow up with the EU and its foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, through our Mission in Brussels this week. -------------- - TFG Military Effectiveness: We Need More Money -------------- - ¶7. (S) President Sharif expressed confidence that with additional equipment the Somali army would prevail over poorly armed enemy forces. He urged the international community to support AMISOM and the TFG in tandem so that the two forces could work together. Sharif described the difference in capabilities between AMISOM and the TFG as huge and said that, in comparison, the TFG has but a fraction of what AMISOM possesses. He said the TFG wants to go on the offensive in cities it controls but cannot due to lack of capability. He warned that the relatively equal strength levels of the TFG and enemy forces only prolonged the suffering of the Somali people and, if ignored, would exacerbate the situation. -------------- Public Perceptions of AMISOM -------------- ¶8. (S) President Sharif said the Somali public supports AMISOM and acknowledged with gratitude that AMISOM forces have suffered casualties to save Somalia. He said catastrophe would follow were AMISOM to suddenly withdraw. He also warned that AMISOM and the international community need to find a way for AMISOM to respond to enemy provocation. Sharif reported that the AU's Commissioner for Peace and Security had told him that AMISOM's mandate allows it to attack enemy enclaves, and that AMISOM troops have recently begun retaliating - a move supported by the TFG. Sharif said if AMISOM doesn't retaliate, the enemy will claim that AMISOM cannot protect civilians. He said the local population would welcome an offensive by AMISOM. President Sharif also reported that both Burundi and Uganda are willing to increase their assistance to AMISOM but need logistical support to do so. -------------- International Assistance: Promises, Promises -------------- ¶9. (S) Assistant Secretary Carson asked President Sharif if the TFG has received assistance from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, other Gulf or Middle Eastern states, or the Arab League. Sharif said some governments have made promises but so far nothing has materialized. He asked the U.S. to pressure other governments to live up to their commitments. Foreign Minister Jangali said Italy is one of the few countries that has fulfilled its promise to the TFG. Assistant Secretary Carson said the U.S. has and will continue to pressure states that have promised to support the TFG to honor these commitments. He promised to take up this issue with Egypt's senior leadership and the Arab League while in Cairo this week, and urged the TFG to continue to push partners to live up to their commitments. KAMPALA 00001280 003 OF 003 -------------- Kenya, Egypt and Eritrea -------------- ¶10. (S) President Sharif said he shared U.S. concerns about Kenyan plans to create a buffer Jubaland force. He described the introduction of any forces outside of TFG control as an unwelcome development. He also agreed that recruitment of potential TFG soldiers should not occur within the UN's Dadaab refugee camp in northeast Kenya as this would politicize refugee camps and undermine the UN's ability to manage them. Sharif said he has already spoken to the relevant people to ensure no recruitment occurs within the camp. ¶11. (S) Assistant Secretary Carson said he was going to Cairo via Nairobi and asked Sharif if the Egyptians are playing a useful role, or doing things that were unhelpful. Sharif said Egypt's support is crucial for the TFG and that it is difficult for him to say definitively whether Egypt is playing a constructive role. He expressed concern about a recent exchange of visitors between Egypt and Eritrea. He said he spoke with the Egyptian Minister of Social Affairs during the October 19-23 AU Summit in Kampala and expressed a desire to visit Cairo to discuss these issues. Sharif said the TFG needs U.S. support vis-a-vis Egypt. ¶12. (S) President Sharif raised reports of the capture of two Eritrean operatives along the Somali-Kenyan border. He said these individuals are now in Kenya and suggested taking advantage of this development to promote sanctions against Eritrea and convince those still sympathetic to Eritrea that the Eritreans are indeed involved in "dirty business" in Somalia. Assistant Secretary Carson said the U.S. is aware of just one Eritrean in Kenyan custody but said he would raise this issue in Nairobi. -------------- Continued U.S. Support -------------- ¶13. (S) Assistant Secretary Carson assured President Sharif that the U.S. stands behind the TFG. He said the U.S. will continue to provide support both directly and through Uganda and Burundi. The Assistant Secretary also said the U.S. would follow up with Egypt, the Arab League, and the EU regarding specific promises of support, and will continue to pressure states to honor their commitments to the TFG. LANIER